Return Home 2007 - 2008 Meets and Accomplishments 07 - 08 Meet Season
Press Release January 11, 2008
JACKSONVILLE GYMNASTICS TEAM WINS 14 TOP AWARDS IN
FIRST THREE MEETS OF NEW COMPETITIVE YEAR
and SOME FANTASTIC EVENT SCORES
Coaches may move gymnasts up to the next level at the end of the summer training schedule, so each of the levels consists of mostly new gymnasts. However, each of the different levels of the team has raised its team scores from the end of last year. Different team gymnasts have received event scores as high as 9.75 and 9.8 on floor and 9.525 and 9.625 on beam--exceptionally good scores—out of a 10.00. Scores sometimes depend on how the gymnasts react to the meet and the meets have been relaxed but against good competition. Gymnasts, coaches and teams get to know one another from season to season and good friendships are formed.
The Level Three team has not won team trophies as teams awards have not been given in their first three competitions for Level Three, but they have earned the highest scores at their three meets, scoring as high as almost 112 points, which is a great score in anybody’s book. These Level Three gymnasts range in age from five to ten. Event scores for some of the gymnasts were 9.45, 9.5 and 9.6 – out of a 10.0.
These Level Three Gymnasts all did very well at the Pepsi Challenge - No team award was given but the gymnasts are proudly showing their individual trophies. From left to right on front row are Marissa Wallace, Rachel Vire, Olivia Hodson, Sarah Balenko, Madison "Cross" Engel, Taylor Parker, Alex Leirer and Deja Snyder. Standing back row, left to right, are Mollie Johnson, Katlyn Grace, Lindsey Hart, Lauren Osburn, Keelee Curbo and Jenna Mecca. Also on team, but unable to make this meet was six-year-old Hayden Medlock.
The Level Four Team has won two Second-Place Trophies, missing First by .15 of a point and the other by .65 of a point. They won First-Place Trophy in their other meet. The Level Four gymnasts range in age from seven to eleven years. Several of the Level Four gymnasts were moved directly from Level Two to Level Four, skipping Level Three.
Shown here are some of the Level Four Team Gymnasts who competed in Batesville recently. Front row, from left to right, are Sara Heil, Lakyn Powers, Sierra Rohauer, Natalie Donley, Sarah Beavers, Miranda Chambers and Abby Houghtaling. Second row, left to right, are Jadyn Perkins, Sydney Baggerly, Sydney McGill, and Ashley Hudson. Third row, also left to right are Maggie Lee, Skylar Spaeth, Jessica Gardner, Briyana Isaac and Sydney McClung. Competing but not shown here were Mattie Taylor and Allison Ramsey. Also on team but unable to compete at this meet due to illness were Sarah Seibel and Victoria Maness.
Level Five Team has won Two First-Place Team Trophies and one Third-Place Team Trophy. The Level Five gymnasts range in age from eight to twelve years old. At her last meet, Bailea Jones scored a 9.75 on her floor event and 9.525 on beam earning her a 37.575 overall for her individual all-around score.
The Level Five Team, from left to right front row are Lynzie VanBrocklin, Bailea Jones, Katherine Taylor and Halle Maddox. Second row are Jordan Rogers, Rachel Flippen, Katelin McLain and Madi Spears. On the back row, from left to right, are Amanda Hicks, Kennedy Driskill, Alex Taylor, Hannah Taylor, Katy Gorden, Sabrina Barger and Anna Faith Camp.
The Level Six Team has won three First-Place Team Trophies this season. It has been said that Level Six is probably the hardest level technically because judges want the gymnasts to be well-prepared before they are moved up to the Optional Levels--Level Seven and Up. (Optional gymnasts compete their individual routines that are choreographed for them personally by their coaches and they compete more difficult skills.) There are not many gymnasts at Level Six in the state, and most of this season’s Level Six gymnasts for the Jacksonville Team were Level Five gymnasts last season when they won the Level Five State Championship Banner. The seven gymnasts range in age from eight to fifteen. Ten-year old Kendra Lytch scored a 9.8 on her floor exercise at the last meet.
Level Six Team Members shown here, from left to right are Jessica McDonough, Carol Walters, Mackenzie Ellis, Kendra Lytch, Tonie Butler, Stephanie Singleton and Tiffany Maxwell.
The Optional Team gymnasts, Level Seven, Eight and Nine, have only competed in two meets – Hot Springs and Batesville. Level Seven gymnasts lost to a Texas team and received Second-Place in Hot Springs and won First-Place at Batesville. These gymnasts range in age from ten to thirteen. The team had some really good event scores – especially on floor: Taylor – 9.6; Tori – 9.5; Mackenzie - 9.45; and Alyson 9.4. Also Samantha G. scored 9.45 on bars and Samantha S. scored 9.4 on beam.
"That feeling of exhilaration of having just competed and doing well" really shows on the faces of these happy Level Seven Gymnasts as they pose here. Seated is Kelsy Founds and behind her from left to right are Taylor Butler, Samantha Sobba, Samantha Gray, Tori Spears, Alyson Ferren, Kimmie Edwards and Mackenzie Powers.
Level Eight Team competed in the same two meets – Hot Springs and Batesville and they won First-Place Trophies in both meets. The gymnasts range in age from ten to sixteen years, and they have been bringing in good event scores as well as team scores. Sarah scored a 9.625 on beam and 9.425 on floor.
Jacksonville Gymnastics will host its Eighth Annual Sweetheart Invitational Competition in Cabot in February and the public is invited. From left to right are Level Eight Gymnasts Tori Hanley, Taylor Rai Johnson, Haley Edgin, Courtney Ellis, Sissy Ghormley and Sarah McAlister. These Jacksonville Team Gymnasts are from as far North as Beebe all the way in another direction to Sheridan and Alexander, with Cabot, and Sherwood inbetween.
Jacksonville Gymnasts have been working toward Level Nine for about two years and the Team and coaches are so proud of fourteen-year-old Kayla Edgin. She is the first Level Nine gymnast to compete for Jacksonville – and she is one of the gymnasts who drives so far every day to get to the gym and never misses the workouts. She came to Jacksonville Team as a ten-year-old Level Six State Floor Champion, competed Level Seven that next year, and has been working hard ever since to make her way to Level Nine.
Kayla Edgin - First Meet-Level Nine - First Place All-Around in First Two Meets!
These coaches work very hard with these gymnasts to help them learn the skills and achieve the scores that they do. From left to right are Lois Bryan, Lindsey Sweet, Head Coach Laurel Spears, Erin Wunderl and Christy Ellis. Laurel has two daughters on team, Level Five and Seven and Christy’s two daughters are Level Six and Level Eight.
The Jacksonville Gymnastics Team will compete next in the Yankee Doodle Dandy Meet hosted by Flip Flop Gymnastics at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on January 18-19 and 20.